Hadaway Harry

Harry Clasper, the first North East sporting superstar, is to be remembered in an exciting new play that will tour the region in June and July to mark the 170th anniversary of the World Rowing Champions title coming to the North East for the first time.

Written by Ed Waugh, Hadaway Harry, tells the story of how Harry, his three brothers and “Awld” Uncle Ned brought the coveted accolade to the region in June 1845.

When Harry and his brothers took the title from the London rowers on the Thames it caused a sensation locally and nationally.

The Blaydon Races was written for Harry and when he died in 1870, aged 57, more than 130,000 lined the streets of Newcastle to pay tribute to the “greatest rower of his generation”.

As well as being a champion sculler, Dunston-born Harry trained and influenced Geordie world champions and designed the rowing craft seen today at the Olympics and the Oxbridge boat race.

“This is a brilliant story of a true working class hero,” Ed explained.

“Harry was raised in Jarrow and later, as a Durham miner in Hetton le Hole, was involved in the Great Strike of 1831, before becoming a professional rower.

Rowing, or aquatics as it was known in Victoria times, was the sport of the working class before football came along. Harry was known nationally and internationally as a champion and an innovator.

“Set against the background of the industrial revolution and the development of great cities like Newcastle, Harry’s is a story of the underdog fighting against all the odds to become a world champion.”

He added: “The region can proudly boast sporting greats and world champions like Brendan Foster, Alan Shearer, Jackie Milburn, Steve Cram and Glenn McCrory but Harry Clasper was arguably the greatest of them all.

“Sadly being a working class athlete in the Victorian era, his story was never documented. This is a small contribution to once again celebrating the achievement of a Geordie sporting hero.”

All the venues being visited have a resonance with Harry’s life.

Hadaway Harry has been supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and South Tyneside Council.